SOUTH AMERICA. 
171 
fixed to the underside of a leaf. Now, in passing on, 
if you happen to disturb one of these, they sally forth 
and punish you severely. The largest kind is blue; 
it brings blood where its sting enters, and causes 
pain and inflammation enough to create a fever. 
The Indians make a fire under the nest, and after 
killing, or driving away the old ones, they roast the 
young grubs in the comb and eat them. I tried 
them once by way of desert after dinner, but my 
stomach was offended at their intrusion ; probably 
it was more the idea than the taste that caused the 
stomach to rebel. 
Time and experience have convinced me that there 
is not much danger in roving amongst snakes and 
wild beasts, provided only that you have self-com¬ 
mand. You must never approach them abruptly; 
if so, you are sure to pay for your rashness; because 
the idea of self-defence is predominant in every 
animal, and thus the snake, to defend himself from 
what he considers an attack upon him, makes the 
intruder feel the deadly effect of his poisonous fangs. 
The jaguar flies at you, and knocks you senseless 
with a stroke of his paw; whereas, if you had not 
come upon him too suddenly, it is ten to one but 
that he had retired, in lieu of disputing the path 
with you. The labarri snake is very poisonous, and 
I have often approached within two yards of him 
without fear. I took care to move very softly and 
gently, without moving my arms, and he always 
allowed me to have a fine view of him, without 
showing the least inclination to make a spring at 
THIRD 
JOURNEY 
Snakes 
and wild 
beasts. 
